Roy Halladay again dominates Reds as Phillies romp

CINCINNATI -- Whether he was running the bases on his three-run double or striking out another overmatched Reds batter, Roy Halladay looked awfully fresh.

The right-hander allowed a pair of hits in seven innings and drove in three runs with the second double of his career on Tuesday night, leading the Phillies to a 9-0 victory over a Cincinnati team that can't figure out what to do against Philadelphia.

"We're basically like we always have been," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We play out the game. We stay with it."

Halladay (16-5) gave up Brandon Phillips' leadoff single in the first inning, then dominated the team he no-hit in the playoffs last season. His bases-loaded double in the sixth inning off Bronson Arroyo (8-11) made it 6-0.

It was especially pleasing for Halladay, given the way he's been rained on the last few weeks. He pitched only twice during a 21-day stretch because of rainouts, the most recent one last Saturday, and was a little concerned about how it would affect him.

"I don't know what the word is -- it's one of those things you can't control," said Halladay, who threw 108 pitches. "You're trying to get into a rhythm and it makes it difficult.

"I felt fresh. I felt like my location early on wasn't great. I got into a rhythm as the game went on."

So did the rest of the Phillies.

Ryan Howard hit two of the Phillies' four homers, giving him 29 for the season. He also reached 100 RBIs for the sixth straight year, a team record. Howard had been tied with Hall of Famer Chuck Klein for consecutive 100-RBI seasons.

Raul Ibanez returned from a strained groin and had a two-run homer among his three hits. Hunter Pence also hit a solo homer off Arroyo, who has given up the most in the majors.

The Phillies improved to 5-1 against the Reds this season and 19-6 lately. They swept their three-game division series last season, which started with Halladay throwing the second postseason no-hitter in history.

When he gets together with the Reds, memorable things tend to happen.

Any thoughts of another no-hitter were dismissed on his second pitch. Phillips singled to right field, extending his hitting streak to 13 games, the longest by a Red this season. The Reds wouldn't get another hit until Joey Votto doubled in the seventh. Halladay walked two, hit one batter and fanned nine.

"Halladay wasn't sharp early," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He threw a lot of pitches. It's always a game changer when you get on a guy like that early."

Cincinnati couldn't do it. The Reds managed four hits while getting blanked for the seventh time. Philadelphia's 18 shutouts lead the majors.

Halladay will remember this one more for his swing.

He came to bat in the sixth with the bases loaded and lined a down-the-middle slider the opposite way into the right-field corner.

"I couldn't tell you where it was," Halladay said. "I'm guessing it was down the middle or I couldn't have hit it."

His awkward swing produced his first RBIs of the season and ended Arroyo's outing. The right-hander fell to 1-7 career against the Phillies.

Howard connected off Arroyo in the fourth. Pence hit a chest-high pitch for a homer that started the rally in the sixth. Arroyo has given up 36 homers, the most ever by a Reds right-hander. Left-hander Eric Milton holds the franchise record of 40 homers allowed.

Game notes

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman James Wisniewski shagged balls during batting practice and threw a ceremonial pitch. ... It was Howard's third multihomer game of the season and the 28th of his career. ... After the game, the Phillies optioned RH Michael Schwimer to Triple-A. According to CSN Philly, his roster spot will be filled by 1B/OF John Bowker whom the team acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates following the game. ... The Phillies will start LHP Cliff Lee in their third game against Cincinnati on Wednesday. Lee has won his last five starts. He beat the Reds on May 26 in Philadelphia, improving to 5-2 for his career against them. ... Cincinnati will start left-hander Dontrelle Willis, who is still trying for that elusive first win of the season. He's 0-3 after nine starts. The bullpen has blown three save chances behind him. ... Paul Janish pinch-hit and flied out, leaving the Reds SS in an 0-for-23 rut.

Roy Halladay: bases-loaded double gives him 3 RBI on one hit, he had 6 RBI in his career entering the game.
That means that 7 of Halladay's 9 career RBI have come with the bases loaded.
Notable Phillies players with fewer bases-loaded RBI this season than Halladay:
Chase Utley (2)
Hunter Pence (2)